Islamabad, Pakistan, August 19, 2026 — Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered former prime minister and cricket star Imran Khan to be transferred from prison to a hospital in Islamabad amid concerns over his deteriorating health.
The court directed that Khan, 73, be moved to Shifa International Hospital within 48 hours and remain there until September 16, according to his spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha. The order followed an appeal by Khan’s family and came after repeated concerns from his lawyers and relatives about his medical condition.
Khan has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases following his removal as prime minister in 2022. He has maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated and denies wrongdoing. Some of his convictions have subsequently been suspended or overturned, while appeals remain pending.
The Supreme Court said the transfer was intended to protect Khan’s health and safety. Justice Shahid Waheed, who headed the three-member bench hearing the petition, said the order was issued with regard to the prisoner’s fundamental rights.
The court also ordered the formation of a medical panel to oversee Khan’s treatment. The panel is to include a cardiologist, a general medicine specialist, an eye specialist and Khan’s personal physician.
